This Chickpea Pasta Salad is going to be your new favorite pasta salad! It’s packed with fresh herbs and veggies and works so well as a summer side or pair it with some protein for a light yet filling summer dinner.

The Most Delicious Chickpea Pasta Salad

it’s the pasta salad of the summer!

One thing about me is that I LOVE a good pasta salad! I have some rules about my pasta salad though and it’s got to have tender pasta, crunchy veggies, some kind of creamy or salty cheese, and a really flavorful dressing.

This chickpea pasta salad meets all of my requirements plus there’s an extra dose of protein and fiber from the chickpeas so it’s a win all around. It’s perfect as a side dish or I love pairing it with some chicken breast or salmon to make it a full meal.

The leftovers of this recipe are perfect so you can meal prep it in advance and honestly I think it might taste even better the next day! You’re going to LOVE.

— Ashlea

Recipe Ingredients and Notes

Orzo: orzo is a form of short-cut pasta that looks very similar to a grain of rice. I use regular orzo, but whole grain orzo and gluten-free orzo are also great.
Chickpeas: these make the pasta salad a little more hearty and add some fiber and protein.
Olives: I use Castelvetrano olives because they’re buttery and perfectly salty but feel free to use your favorite!
Veggies: we’re using cherry tomatoes, pepperoncini peppers, Persian cucumber, and red onion to add all that fresh flavor, crunch, and color.
Fresh Herbs: a good pasta salad has to have some fresh herbs so we’re using fresh dill, fresh parsley, and fresh basil.
Cheese: we’re using feta baby for that salty creamy bite.
Dressing: I make a homemade vinaigrette combining olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper.

Ingredient Substitutions

Orzo – don’t want to use orzo? swap it for another small pasta or rice. If you need to keep this recipe gluten free then you can always use your favorite brand of gluten free orzo.
Veggies – feel free to switch up the veggies in this salad! It’s an easy recipe to customize and make your own.
Feta – don’t love feta? Swap it for another cheese or just leave it out altogether.
Dressing – prefer a different dressing? Use any store-bought or homemade dressing you prefer!

How to Make the Best Chickpea Pasta Salad

Cook the pasta. Boil the orzo in salted water, cooking just to al dente. Then, drain, rinse in cold water, and set aside.
Combine. Add the pasta and all the other salad ingredients to a large bowl.
Make the dressing. Whisk all the dressing ingredients in a bowl.
Toss and serve. Toss the pasta salad with the dressing, and top with fresh herbs. Enjoy!

Ashlea’s Tips for the Best Pasta Salad

Season to taste. Be sure to give the pasta salad a taste before serving and add salt, pepper, herbs, or dressing to your liking.
Don’t overcook your pasta. Cook the orzo to al dente so that it still has a bit of bite. The last thing you want is mushy orzo in your salad.
Drain and rinse the orzo under cool water to remove any excess starch before adding it to your mixing bowl and assembling the salad.
Salt your water while cooking the pasta to ensure that it has plenty of flavor. There’s no need to add oil to the pasta water.
Chop the veggies evenly. Cut the produce into bite-sized pieces so you get a little bit of everything in each bite.

Serving Suggestions

This chickpea pasta salad is delicious all on its own, but if you want to pair it with something, here are a few of my favorite recipes:

How to Store

You can store the salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Give it a quick stir to redistribute the ingredients, and enjoy cold.

chickpea pasta salad in serving bowl with fork

More Delicious Pasta Salad Recipes

I hope you give this Chickpea Pasta Salad Recipe a try! It’s hearty, flavorful, and simple to make! If you do give this recipe a try, let me know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @allthehealthythings on INSTAGRAM. Your reviews and ratings help support All the Healthy Things and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you trust and love.